Driving mechanism for road-vehicles.



m. 707,984. Pafentd Aug. 26,1902. i

I -'W.;S.'TAYLOR,.1 B. A

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ROAD 'VEHIICLES'.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.

4'S heets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 26, I902. W.'S TAYLOR, In. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR sqao VEHICLES.

(No Model.)-

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1901.1

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

fig? wow I 311 denim V am/ilyiarin ma NoRRys PETERS ca. Pnorauma, WASHIN'DTON. 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. TAYLOR, JR, OF QIfIIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO CHARLES ZIMMERMAN AND LOU ZIMMERMAN, OF OELWEIN, IOWA.

DRIVING. M ECHANISY-JM FOR ROAD-VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 707,984, dated August 26, 1902. Application filed November 20', 1961. Serial No. 83,055- (No model.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. TAYLOR, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at 307 North Scott street, Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Road-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in IO driving mechanism for road-Vehicles; and the object is to provide differential driving-gear for automobiles and similar vehicles which applies the propellingforce by frictional contacts to a disk fixed to the rear axle of the vehicle.

A further objectis to provide a mechanism of the kind named and for the purposes mentioned which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and durable in use.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction of parts and their novel arrangement and aggroup ment in operative combination. I p

I have fully and clearly illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the casing, showing the relative arrangement of the cases or boxes wherein the frictional mechanisms 0 are contained, the sprocket-chain, and the system of lovers for throwing the interior elements into and out of engagement. Fig.

2 is a longitudinal central section of the machine, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the main friction-disk, the 'inclosing casing, the friction-brakes, and the sliding and adjustable friction mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the reversing frictional ap- 4o pliances." Fig. 4 is a detail side view, partly in longitudinal section, showing one of the friction-wheels and one side of the housing for the wheel. Fig.4 is a longitudinal vertical section through housing 33 and face view 5 of the friction-pulley. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.

1, showing the levers which control the reversing mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail plan View, partly in section, taken on the line 6 6,

5o showin g the levers which throw the mainfriction-wheels into and out of contact with the driving-disk. Fig. 7 is a detail side View of one of the brakes. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the yoke, the ends of which are jointed to the pull-rods of the housings of the difierential friction-wheels. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the supporting trusses or bars which hold the casin g in position relatively to the vehicle-frame.

A designates the axle of the vehicle, whereon is mounted to turn therewith the hub l of a friction wheel or disk 2 of such diameter and strength as may adapt it to the purposes of propelling the vehicle with which it is associated. The hub 1 is extended on the axle in both directions from its center or middle to give the disk a firm seat and prevent lateral vibration. The extensions of the hub may be reduced in diameter, as indicated, and are provided at their end portions with screw-threads, and at the base of the extensions are annular inclines forming conical walls bearing against proper bearing-balls. On each side of the hub is mounted an annular bearing-collar 3, formed in the interior at each end portion with annular chambers 4,

terminating in curved shoulders, so that when the collars are arranged in position on the hub bearing channels or races are formed, in which bearing-balls 5 are placed, as shown. The collars 3 are provided withexterior screwthreads, which extend part of their lengths and engage with interior threads in the bore or central aperture of the casing. On the threaded ends of the hub are fitted collars 6,

having conical ends which bear against the outer line of balls, as shoWn. The collars and balls are made of hardened steel, so that the least amount of friction and wear results.

It will be perceived from the foregoing 'description that the hub of the friction-diskrevolves in contact with the antifriction-balls, each set of which is in horizontal alinement with companion sets, the verticality of'the inclosing casing in its relation to the disk be- 5 ing thus insured.

B designates an inclosing casing made up of side pieces substantially circular in contour and of such diameter as to take in and cover the friction-disk, as indicated in the I00 drawings, and is .provided with rectangular openings closed by top and bottom pieces 9 10 and side pieces (not shown) and provided with covers 7 8, the whole constituting boxes or housings wherein are located the frictional devices which contact with the friction disk or wheel. The plates forming the casing B are each formed on their inner faces with alining circular or annular flanges 9 10, the inner faces of which contact when the parts of the casing are arranged together. To secure the parts of the casing together, bolts ll are at desired intervals projected therethrough. The casing is formed with oppositely-arranged vertical annular flanges 12 13,forming between them an annular channel, wherein are placed cone bearing-rings 14 15, extending around the perimeter of the casing and held in place by screw-bolts a, projected through the flanges of the casing.

16 17 designate angular bearing-rings, also extending around the casing, forming in conjunction with the bearing-rings 14 15 races or ways wherein are placed antifriction-balls 18, constituting the hearings on which the sprocket ring or rim revolves.

On the angular and perimetral bearing rings 16 17 is arranged the sprocket ring or rim 19, rigidly fitted in position. This sprocketrim consists ofasubstantial metal ringformed with an interior depending annular flange 20, which engages in the space between the angular rings 16 17 and is provided with sprockets 21 at determined distances on its perimeter. A chain 22 is arranged on the sprockets and extends to the power (not shown) which actuates the chain and revolves the sprocket-ring. The side edges or faces of the sprocket-ring are made plane and smooth, so that their contact with the friction-pulleys, as hereinafter specified, will reduce the wear to a minimum. The casingis formed with a sleeve 23 in each plate there of, extending outward and having interior screw-threads which engage with the threads on the bearing-rings on the hub of the main or driving friction-disk. The casing is held in its lateral relation to hub and disk by means of fastening-rings 24 on the ends of the bearing-ringsand setting against the ends of the sleeve of the casing. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.)

0 and O designate oppositely-arranged boxes or casings, located on opposite sides of the main casing and supported by it. These boxes or casings are duplicates in construction and contain and carry duplicate mechanical elements operating in unison on opposite sides of the main friction driving-disk. It will thus be perceived that a description of one of the boxes and its contained mechanism will apply to the other, and therefore the elements and parts of both are identified by the same reference notations.

Particularly referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be perceived that the boxes are made up of end pieces 9 10, integral with the casing B and the cover or face-plate 7, secured thereto by any proper means, as by screw-bolts 11. In each of the boxes or casings thus provided is placed a box or housing 28, having a chamber into which a frictionpulley projects, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The box 28 has its outer end formed with inturned flanges 29, forming vertical grooves in which a plate 30 is loosely placed, as shown. In the end pieces of the box 28 are formed bearings, wherein are journaled the pintles 31 32 of a second housing 33, in the chamber of which is arranged a friction-pulley 34. The housing 33 being provided with the journals or pintles has a limited rocking movement thereon, so that shaft 34 of the friction-pulley may have a limited swing or vibration in vertical direction and permit it to be moved to and from the main friction wheel. The friction-pulley 34 is formed with annular flanges 35, between which is placed a hard-fiber ring 36, which bears against the side edge or face of the sprocket-ring through a slot 37 and is rotated thereby. Between the pulley-housing and the pulley are arranged antifrictionballs 38 to reduce the friction and provide bearings for the pulley. In the pulley is fixed a shaft 34, held to turn therewith by a spline 39, extending the length of the shaft. To the outer face of the plate 30 is fixed a standard 40, projected slidingly through a slot 41 in the cover of the box and having its outer end pivotally connected to an arm 42, fixed on a rock-shaft 43, mounted in a sleeve 44, fixed to the outer face of the cover 7. On the inner end of the shaft 34 is slidingly mounted a friction-pulley 44, of greater diameter but of identical construction with the pulley 34, and is inclosed in a housing of the same construction and mount as that inclosing pulley 34, except that in the outer end of the housing are formed circular recesses in which are disposed antifriction-rollers 45 46, which run against the plate 30 to reduce the frictional contact therewith. The rim of the pulley 44 projects through a radial slot 47, formed in the main casing, and bears against the face of the main friction-wheel 2 to impart rotation thereto. This housing, with the pulley 44, is adjustably moved along the shaft by means of a rod 48, having its inner end fixed to the housing and at its lower end passed through the lower housing and extended through the inclosing box, as shown, and to the outer end is pivotally jointed a yoke 49, having a stem 50,, (see Fig. 8,) the stem of the yoke being connected operatively to a lever, (not shown,) whereby the pulleys 44, with their housings, may be pulled along on the shafts and held at desired points to contact the main friction-wheel. To the upper ends of the shafts 43 are fixed arms 51 52, connected bya connecting-bar 53, to the middle of which is connected the lower end of a lever 54, fulcrumed to the cover 7 and having its upper end connected to a bar or rod 55,

- the other end of which is connected to the end of alever'56, arranged at some convenient location for manipulation.

7 It will be perceived from the foregoing description that the mechanism specified is that essential to efiect propulsion of the vehicle with which it is associated. The engine being started up, motion is imparted to the sprocket-rim through the chain connection, and then the friction-pulleys being moved into contact with the opposite sides of the sprocket-rim and the others with the opposite-sides of the driving friction disk or wheel on the rear axle the progression of the vehicle will be attained. ceivedthat the location of the pulleys 44 in their relation to the driving-disk will regulate the speed of the vehicle, since the nearer they are arranged to the hub of the disk in operation the greater the speed of the vehicle will be and of' course the farther they are from the hub the slower the vehicle will be propelled.

A brake mechanism is provided, of which the following is a description: On the sides of theimain casing toward the rear portion thereof are formed laterally-projecting ears 57 58, having apertures therein, and between these ears openings are made in thecasing through which the rims of the brakes project into contact with the main friction-wheel, as indicated in- Fig. 2 of the drawings. The brakes are composed of a plane disk 59, with projecting arm-piece 60, and a second 'disk' 61, having an arm 62 coincident with the arm and formed with a circular brake-' piece 63, on which is mounted a hard-fiber ring 64, constituting the brake ring or shoe, which bears against the main or driving friction-wheel 2. These brakes are mounted eccentrically on journal-bolts 65, projected through the said ears and the circular brakepiece 63. A bolt 66 is arranged in the alining arms 60 62, and to this bolt is suitablyconnected the forked end of a brake-rod67, having the other end pivotally connected to an arm of a bell-crank lever 68, thefree end of the other arm of the lever being connected to a pull-rod 69, which has its other end connected to a lever (not shown) on the vehicle. The brakeband or ring 64 is held in position by bolts "70, projected through the parts, so

thatwhen' any point or part of the'ba nd is worn the bolts may be removed and the rin g moved on the piece 63 and present an'unworn point or surface to the disk or wheel 2. Of course-these brakes can be utilized during the forward or backward'movem'ent of the vehicle.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is illustrated the reversing gear or mechanism, which in the general construction is similar to that by which the vehicleis propelled forward. Re ferring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, whichmore particularly shows all the elements in operative aggroupment, 71 72 designate boxes vertically arranged and secured to the opposite Itfwill be further perarranged substantially as shown.

sides of the casing and adapted to contain the operative. reversing mechanism. Inthe lower endsof these boxes are placed housings 73, wherein are arranged friction-pulleys 7 4,-running on antifriction-balls placed between the pulleys and thewalls of the housing, as shown. In the housings are also j ournaled reversing-pulleys 75, the perimeters of whichbear' against the faces of the main friction-disk 2. At the outer ends of these housings are arranged antifriction-rollers 76 77, which bear against the plate 78, passed vertically through the ends of therespective housings, sothat the housings,with the pulleys, may be lifted vertically and slid along on the shaft. In the pulleys 74 are arranged shafts 7 9, formed with a spline 80, so that the shafts willturn with the pulleys and 'so that theshafts with the housings and pulleys fast thereon may be moved vertically and the reversing-pulleys assume different radial positions in relation to the disk 2. On' the upper end portions of the shafts are mounted friction -pulleys 81, of

larger diameter than the lower pulleys andbear with their rims against the side edges of the sprocket-rim,which imparts rotation there- 'to. The pulleys 81 are inclosed in suitable housings 82 and run on antifriction-bearings The'ho usin gs carrying the pulleys have a limited lateral sliding movement within the boxes, so that the pulleys may be moved out of and into contact with the driving-disk 2. 1 This is effected by means of the plates 78, which have arms '83 passed through the covers of the boxes, said arms having theirouter ends connected to arms 84, fixed tojrock-sh'afts 85, journaled in sleeves 86 87: on the face of the boxes, the 5 shafts being provided with arms88- 89, having their ends pivotally united'to a link 90,

to which one arm of a bell-crank lever- 91is connected, the other arm of which is operatively connected'to theend of a pull-rod92, theother end of which is connected to' the end of the lever- 56. L The upper housings82- are madefast to the upper portion of 'the plates 78 and hold the housings in their proper positions, while the lower housings are slid able on'the plate and'fastened to the pulley,

so that whenthe shaft is lifted endwise the:

lower housing, with the pulley, isalsolifted. The ends of the shafts project through the upper ends of the boxes and havea limited lateral movement in the apertures93, as indicated. The projecting ends of the shafts are-swiveled in headpiecesj94, which are secured against endwise displacement and formed with ways across their upper ends, in

which is disposed lifting-bar 95,'on the ends of which are hung lifting-arms 96 97, having their lower ends pivotally connected toan arm of abell-crank lever98,'fulcrumed at 99 to the faces of'the'boxes, and having their vertical arms connected to a pull-rod 100, which is connected to an operating-lever. (Not shown.) It will be perceived that when the levers'are connected to the bar of the'headpieces on the shafts the shafts will be lifted vertically and correspondingly move the lower housing with the pulleys therein.

It will be perceived that the system of levers for throwing the propulsion and reversing mechanism into and out of active operation work so that when the former is performing its functions of propulsion the latter is disengaged and idle and that when the latter is engaged the former is out of use and both systems of propulsion and reversal are operated from a single lever, but arranged so as to move in opposite directions.

The housings of the reversing mechanism may be provided with the tilting element illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whereby the shafts are permitted to tilt a limited distance laterally.

The main casing is held in fixed position to the frame of the vehicle by means of strong side bars 101 102, bolted to the sides of the casing and having their forward ends mounted on a binder or truss-rod 103, the ends of which may be clipped to bars forming any suitable part of the vehicle-body.

The functions of the respective parts or elements and their operative relations have been specified in conjunction with their description; but the operation of the whole may be rehearsed as follows: When it is desired to start the vehicle forward, the proper leveris utilized to move the friction-wheels of the propulsion system into engagement with the sprocket-arm and with the driving-disk. The power may then be turned on,and the forward movement of the vehicle is attained. When it is desired or required to stop the progression of the vehicle, the friction-pulleys are moved laterally from contact and engagement with the driving-disk and sprocketrim and the brakes are applied. To reverse the direction from progression to backward movement, the pulleys which efiect the forward movement are moved out of engagement with the sprocket-rim and disk wheel and the friction-pulleys of the reversing mechanism moved into contact, and the reversed movement of the vehicle is accomplished.

As heretofore stated, the speed of the vehicle is regulated by the position of the slidable friction-pulleys in their relation to the disk-wheel.

What I claim is 1. In a changeable speed-gear, a driven member, a casing surrounding the driven member, a rotary driving member mounted revolubly on the casing and concentric to the driven member, parallel shafts, fixed and movable gears on said shafts, said fixed gears contacting with the driving member and the movable gears with the driven member.

2. In a changeable speed-gear, a casing having a circular perimeter, a driven rotary member, a revoluble driving member, mounted on the perimeter of the casing, shafts, fixed and movable gears on the shafts, contacting with the driving and driven members on opposite sides thereof respectively, and means to throw the gears out of operative connection with said members.

3. Inachangeable speed-gear, acasinghaving a circular perimeter, a driving member revolubly mounted on the perimeter of the casing, a driven member within the casing, shafts on opposite sides of and parallel with the driven member, fixed and movable gears on each shaft contacting with the driving and driven members respectively, means to throw the gears out of operative connection with said member, and means to adjust the movable gears on the shafts.

4. In a changeable speed-gear, a casing, a rotary driven member therein, a rotary driving member mounted on the perimeter of the casing, shafts on opposite sides of the driven member, fixed and movable gears, arranged to contact with the opposite side faces of the said driving and driven members respectively, and means substantially as described for adjusting the movable gears on the shafts.

5. In a changeable speed-gear, a rotary driven member, a rotary driving member arranged concentric to and in the same plane as the driven member, gear-carrying means parallel to the plane of the said members, fixed and movable gears mounted thereon and operatively engaging the driving and driven members respectively, and means substan tially as described for adjusting the movable gears on the shafts.

6. In a changeable speedgear, a rotary driven member, a rotary driving member arranged concentric to and in the same plane as the driven member, gear-carrying means parallel to the plane of the said members, fixed and movable gears mounted thereon arranged to operatively engage the driving and driven gears respectively, and means to adjust the movable gears with relation to the driven member.

7. In a changeable speed-gear, a rotary driven member, a rotary driving member arranged concentric to and in the same plane as the driven member, gear-carrying means parallel to the plane of the said members, fixed and movable gears mounted thereon, arranged to operatively engage the driving and driven gears respectively, means to ad just the movable gears with relation to the driven member and means to throw the gears out of operative engagement.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination of a casing, a rotary disk-wheel within the casing, means to rotate the disk-wheel, and brakes in the casing arranged to bear on opposite sides thereof mounted on eccentric bearings.

9. The combination of a circular casing, a revoluble sprocket-rim on the casing, a rotary disk-wheel within the casing, oppositely-disposed shafts, friction-pulleys on the shafts to engage with the sprocket-rim, and frictionpulleys on said shafts to engage with the diskwheel.

10. The combination of a circular casing, a revoluble sprocket-rim on the casing, a rotary disk-wheel within the casing, oppositely-disposed shafts, friction-pulleyson the shafts to engage with the sprocket-rim,friction-pulleys on said shafts to engage the disk-wheel and movable lengthwise on the shafts, and means to move and hold said pulley at points to which moved. 4

11. The combination of a circular casing, a revoluble sprocket-rim on the casing, a rotary disk-wheel within the casing, oppositely-disposed shafts, friction-pulleys fixed on one end of the shafts to engage with the sides ofv the sprocket-rim, friction-pulleys slidably mounted on the other ends of the shafts to engage with the sides of the disk-wheel,ineans to move the pulleys laterally out of engagement and means to move and hold the slidable pulleys on the shafts.

12. The combination of a circular casing, a revoluble sprocket-rim on the casin g, a rotary disk-wheel within the casing, oppositely-disposed boxes secured to the casing, laterallymovable housings located in one end of the boxes, laterally and vertically movable housings in the other end of the boxes, frictionpulleys in the first-named housings, to bear.

on the face edges of the'sprocket-rim, friction-pulleys in the second-named housings,

to bear on the faces of the disk wheel, means to move the laterally and vertically movable housings with the pulleys vertically, and

means to move the housings laterally.

13. In combination with the revoluble sprocket-rim, the casing, and the disk-wheel, of a reversing-gear therefor, comprising parallel shafts, pulleys on the ends of the shafts, to engage the sprocket-rim, pulleys on the opposite ends of the shafts, pulleys inter-' posed between the latter-named pulleys and the side faces of the disk-wheel, and means to move the pulleys into and out of engage ment with the disk-wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAMv STAYLOR, JR. Witnesses:

CHARLES HENRY ZIMMERMANN, LOUIE P. ZIMMERMANN. 

